Chocolate and Raspberry Pastry Braid

Before you look at this and think it’s too difficult, I can assure you it is not. This Chocolate Raspberry Braid is a delicious pastry you can easily make at home with very little fuss. What I love about this recipe is that it looks so complicated but it really isn’t at all. Everyone is always impressed by it and I don’t have to sweat making it at all.

I never, ever make puff pastry from scratch. Buy a good quality box of puff pastry from the grocery store and start with that. Then, roll it out on your kitchen counter and follow the directions from there. Score the puff pastry into three sections lengthwise like you would begin when making a braid. Leave a section at the top connected together to function as the “top” of the braid. Then, layer in the ingredients as instructed. Don’t layer them on too thick, you want to make sure you have just the right amount so there is plenty of flavor, but not so much that it overflows in the oven. Finish by crisscrossing the outer sections back and forth across the raspberries to look like a braid.

Once the pastry is baked it looks incredibly impressive. The house will also smell wonderful, there is nothing better than chocolate, raspberry, and puff pastry baked into one single treat. I like to let it cool slightly and then slice it while it’s hot. The raspberry and chocolate are all melted together and tastes incredible. This makes such a fun breakfast to serve the family on Valentine’s Day morning, or to pull out when guests come over. Be sure to have plenty of hot coffee to pair with it, or tea if that’s what your guests prefer.

I hope you have fun with this recipe, it really makes you feel like a pastry chef and puts a smile on everyone’s face!

Chocolate and Raspberry Pastry Braid

Making this is not nearly as difficult as it looks and it’s a real showstopper. I like to make this for the morning on Valentine’s Day; it’s such a nice treat for my family. 

Ingredients:

• Puff pastry sheet

• 1 cup chocolate chips

• 1 cup fresh raspberries

• 2 Tbsp Raspberry Jam

• 3 tablespoons sugar ( 2 Tbsp for filling and 1 for the top) 

• 1 egg (beaten, for egg wash)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2. Roll out the puff pastry to the rectangle shape it is without using a rolling pin.

3. Use a knife to cut the pastry sheet in three even strips lengthwise, leaving the strips connected at one end. This end will be the top of the braid.

4. Spread the raspberry jam in the middle strip of the pastry sheet.

5. Sprinkle chocolate chips and raspberries over the jam.

6. Start folding a braid going from one side to the other over the filling until you reach the end. Pinch all the ends together to seal the pastry.

7. Brush the top with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar.

8. Bake until the pastry is golden brown. 25 – 30 minutes

9. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool slighty before serving.

Nikki Glekas is the owner of Nikki Glekas Events, a full-service catering and events company located in Stamford, CT.. To discuss further please contact team@nikkiglekascollective.com or call 203.658.8659.